fleeing famine: erica hill reports from an african refugee camp where more than 1,300 starving people arrive every day. and flipping for pinball: the classic game from another era remains a bell ringer for fans in one american town. captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news" with russ mitchell. >> mason: good evening. russ has the night off. i'm anthony mason. all eyes turn to wall street monday morning as investors brace for the fallout from the downgrade of u.s. credit. stocks lost nearly a trillion dollars in value last week. that was before standard & poor's cut america's credit rating for the first time in history. and the head of the agency's ratings committee said today if the u.s. doesn't clean up its fiscal act, it could be downgraded again within six months. >> the outlook indicates at least a one-in-three chance of a downgrade over that period. >> mason: s&p has blamed partisan bickering in part in washington for its decision. but as witt johnson reports, the bickering continued today. >> gentlemen... >> reporter: following america's credit downgrade, more b

. >> and i'm in for erica hill. she's in somalia and we'll hear from her in a few minutes. >>> standard sbf poors, markets have already lost ground overseas and wall street is taking another dive this morning. joining us now from the new york stock exchange is alexis christoforous. where do we stand right now? >> stocks tanked, the dow was down 240 points in the first minute of trading. we've come back a little bit, the dow down 185 after stocks dumped after this downgrade of u.s. debt. >> the next question on everybody's mind, double dip recession, how likely is it at this point? >> it's a resounding yes for a double dip recession. since july 26th, this market has lost over a trillion dollars in value. we've gotten clues that the economic slowdown is worsening. manufacturing is slowing down. consumer spending is pulling back. that slowdown could get even worse. one of the byproducts of this debt downgrade is higher interest rates. in this environment, higher rates are just about the last thing this fragile economy

erica hill is in dadaab with more on that story for us this morning. chris, good morning to you. it's important to remember that so many of the more than 400 refugees who now call dadaab home came here because they were fleeing famine in many places but chiefly somalia. the latest numbers we have is on average of the new arrivals about 20% of the children arrive here malnourished. food is obviously a major concern on a daily basis. c.a.r.e. international which handles the food distribution here in the camp, though, is actually trying to increase the options for the people who live here and try to grow a bit of variety. one look at dadaab's scorched earth and it's no surprise only the heartiest survive here. something is sprouting in the camp. >> what are you growing here? okra. leafy greens. a micro garden grown in grain sacks which require less water. essential in the drought-ravaged area. c.a.r.e. international taught 3,000 refugees to garden last year. >> at first they didn't know that they can do farming in this place. >> reporter: the aid organizat

you'll be surprised at the things they'll find there as erica hill will show us. ee so many pictures of refugees who have just arrived and we see them making that journey that you just alluded to. once they get into the camp, it is important to remember that there are people living here since the camps were founded 20 years ago. we want to give aw look at what they made of their life here in dadaab. tents and makeshift shelters as far as the eye can see. carefully portioned food served from giant sacks of grain. the images clearly illustrate the daily life of a refugee. and so does this. a twisting maze of vegetables, shiny cookware, fresh meats, even a tailor. this is not what people expect when they hear about a refugee camp. this is a town. >> this is a town, yeah. because people have been living here for the past 20 years. and they are not in mogadishu because they accepted life here. they need to make it better than it is. >> reporter: the marketplace here is as nearly as old as the camp itself. some of the first businesses were established just after the refu

i'm erica hill. i'm good morning p.m. i'm chris wragge in new york. the scene last night after weeks of ugly debate in washington, the appearance of congresswoman giffords was a long overdue spot in d.c. >> not only lawmakers but i'm sure the american people would agree. nice to have something positive to report from washington for a change and getting so much attention this morning. the senate will vote later today on the debt limit bill that is expected to pass and president obama to sign it before tonight's midnight deadline. don't expect any drama like last night in the house where the divisive debate came with a return of congresswoman gabrielle giffords. nancy cordes is on capitol hill this morning. what a moment, nancy. >> reporter: it really was. washington is filled with cynical folks, but there was not a dry eye in the house. i assure you, in that house chamber last night when gabrielle giffords walked out. she got a standing ovation for more than seven mips. she wanted to come back to vote yes on this debt deal. her presence went a long way

i'm chris wragge along with erica hill. >>> coming up, the polygamist sex trial against warren jeffs. coming up he interrupted for 55 minutes saying his trial was at sta stake. >>> first the government announces historic women's new health guidelines. the department of human and human services is requiring birth control for the first time ever. here's michelle miller. >> reporter: for the tens of millions of american women who use contraception, birth control will essentially be free because of new government guidelines requiring insurance companies to not only cover the cost but eliminate copays and dedubtibles, welcome news to the women we spoke to. >> sometimes $20 a month can definitely be hard to scrape together. >> it is very, very expensive and i think that that's one of the problems especially for younger women who really can't afford it. >> reporter: birth control has been controversial in the united states from the moment margaret sanger opened up the country's first family plannic country in 1916 and promptly sent

i'm chris wragge loalong with erica hill.three convicted of murdering three boys in 1993 could be set free as early as later today. >> after spending more than 15 years in prison and won the right to a new trial. prosecutors may let them go if they agree to a controversial plea deal. a court hearing later today. the family of those three boys not happy about this so bring you the latest on the case ahead. >>> there may be a break in the case of a utah mom who disappeared nearly two years ago. detectives are tracking a possible lead in a remote part of eastern nevada, about 250 miles from susan powell's home. pryia david-clemens has more for us. >> reporter: susan powell was 28 when she van issued from her utah home on a cold december night in 2009. her husband josh had told police he had taken their two boys ages 2 and 4 on a camping trip at midnight with temperatures below freezing. from that first day, almost two years ago. >> it's been really hard, but, you know, you just keep going. >> reporter: susan powell's friends and

i'm erica hill along with chris wragge.or issue for the city and not just for parents. especially in chicago where dozens of children have died in the violence we have talked about in recent years. they are beefing up their curfews for kids under 12 telling parents they can face a serious fine, we are talking it starts at $500 if their kids are out too late. chicago's new mayor will talk about that curfew in a few minutes. >>> also coming up, how important organ donation can be. this is about a little girl who needed a new heart. she was 7 years old at the time and doctors said she wouldn't last much longer. now two years after a life-saving operation she is doing great. we'll talk to her and her parents coming up. >>> first, president obama turns 50 today. he got a jump on his birthday celebration last night at a fund-raiser in chicago. ♪ happy birthday to you >> 2400 supporters led by jennifer hudson sang "happy birthday" to the president who apparently enjoyed it. >> i couldn't have had a better early birthday present th

erica hill is on assignment. >> a couple of high notes and low notes during the debate last night but the gloves were off. >> it got a little brutal. >> it got pretty good and what we begin with. the race for white house and the republican presidential debate in ames, iowa. this weekend the iowa straw poll will show how the voters feel about the candidates. the glove came off last night. >> in congress, her record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent. >> you said the era of small government was over. that sounds a lot more like barack obama if you ask me. >> she says she has titanium spine. not her spine we are worried about, her record of results. please stop because you're killing us. >> when deal was put together, governor pawlenty cut a deal with the special interest groups. >> if i were president what i would have done is cut federal spending and cap federal spending as a total of the economy and work for a balanced budget amendment. if we do that we can rein back the scale of government. >> the cong

i'm erica hill along with jfg.eed d ly off. >> we will focus on the positive this morning, right? looking at the sun. >>> ahead this morning we will expand our look around the globe this morning. we want to bring you a closer look at the humanitarian crisis in east africa. the drought, the famine there. many people at risk at starvation. the situation is increasingly desperate the last few months. u.s. estimates i think 29,000 children under age of 5 have died in the last five months. the pictures are heart breaking. we will talk to a u.n. official on the ground there at the world's largest refugee camp and find out what the situation is and with help from you at home can make a difference in the situation. >>> 33 chilean miners rescued from underground one year to the day after their rescue. >>> a texas jury is considering how long to lock up warren jeffs after convicting a long time ma polygamous. >> reporter: having chosen to fire his legal team and represent himself warren jeffs stood silent mumbling only the p

i'm erica hill along with chris wragge. coming up, casey anthony may be back in orlando, florida, later this week. she walked out of court two weeks ago after a jury found her not guilty of murdering her daughter. >>> a few weeks back a cobra got loose from a central park zoo. this is much better than the missing cobra. this peacock normally lives at the zoo but flew the coop yesterday, ended up across fifth avenue on a pricey apartment building, whoa! and then this morning ten minutes before we go on the air, everyone's been monitoring the peacock ever since it landed on the perch. thing just flew away. we have no idea where it is. we hope it went back home. >> there are other peacocks that live in the city so maybe it got together. >> they may have something planned for the summer, we'll get pack to that. >>> the latest on the jaycee dugard kidnapping case. a report includes the chilling video of another girl taken by the kidnappers. cbs news national correspondent ben tracy has this report. >> reporter: phillip garrido w

. >>> plus erica hill with continued live coverage of the famine in east africa. >>> and the latest on britain's current "it" girl, royal-in-law pippa middleton. >>> that's the "cbs morning news" for this wednesday. thanks for watching. i'm randall pinkston. have a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

erica hill reports live from the world's largest refugee camp. >>> plus the lollapalooza festival 20ll of that coming up later on "the early show." that will do it for this monday morning edition of the cbs. morning news." i'm terrell brown. take care, everybody. have a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

erica hill is in washington and will have live reports from the white house and capitol hill.e expected to vote on the deal today. >>> plus, has the fbi finally tracked down the mysterious hijacker d.b. cooper? all that and more later on, on "the early show." that's it for this monday morning edition of the "cbs morning news." i'm terrell brown. take care, everybody. have a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com how you doing? my name is steve. my family's lived in this neighborhood for years. recently, things got so tight we had to go to our local food bank for help. i lost a lot of sleep worrying about what the neighbors might think. that is, until i saw them there, too. how'd i do, steve? a little stiff. you could have done a little better. what? come on. you know, i have an academy award. yeah, but not for playing me. announcer: play a role in ending hunger. visit feedingamerica.org/hunger and find your local food bank. my name is ne-yo, and i believe that number should be zero. believe in zero. join the effort. visit unicefusa.org.

erica hill is on assignment. >>> it seems the movie industry always finds a way to pack in the crowdso that and find an audience even in the tough economic times. by the way it usually does. people all this industry recession proof. >> i think it's one of the great elixirs for only $15, too. escape for two, three hours, just $15. that's a separate issue. >>> a major development involving sex education. chicago became the first city to incorporate sex ed into the public school curriculum. it's been a hot topic of debate. new york city schools officially announced middle and high school students will be required to take the controversial sex ed classes. >> then at puberty certain glands begin to work and our bodies begin to change. >> what's puberty? >> puberty is a lot of things. >> the birds and the bees. >> when does menstruation start? >> each girl's body sets up her own time and rhythm. >> it seemed like a harmless and innocent lesson given my coaches and teachers in the 1950s. >> perhaps the biggest changes you'll ever go through in your entire life. >> but that innocence gave way

monday next week erica hill will be in africa reporting on the devastating famine there. "a winter tale" one of the best albums of the year, here to perform "dead & done" once again, bobby long. ♪ ♪ heaven is a place where people die pretty ♪ ♪ skies don't lie and there's cash in the kitty ♪ ♪ running from the rocks, there's water for the lips to ease your mouth and bathe your fist ♪ ♪ there's no need for trouble when the roads are down ♪ ♪ nobody's out of work, cause the mine's in town ♪ ♪ the circus has been twice already, my throwing arm is good and my heart is steady ♪ ♪ i'm and i'm done by the heat of the sun ♪ ♪ and i'll rest my hat in an autumn field ♪ ♪ and i'll hang my hat in an autumn field, in an autumn field ♪ ♪ tell my mama not to worry, the food is sweet and the weather's been sunny ♪ ♪ and i'm running from the rocks, i'm closer to the lips ♪ my eyes on the floor, my hands on my hips ♪ ♪ and tell my daddy, there's no use in rushing ♪ ♪ they do it in their sleep when you're not watching ♪ ♪ i've already had the neighbors here, johnny cash came around and we s

an amber alert was cancelled >>> i'm erica hill in washington.t ahead on "the early show" the dramatic return of congresswoman gabrielle giffords there to cast her vote to break the deadlock. her surprise appearance brought two parties together on the house floor monday. we'll show you that moment and also speak with one of her closest friends in the house who helped her walk in. plus, time is money. now some patients are actually charging their doctors for their patience. we'll look at how you can be reimbursed for your waiting time. that's coming up this morning on "the early show." ,, ♪ [ woman ] sam begged and pleaded... so i sent him to camp. we'd earned lots of points with our new citi thankyou card... and i put them to good use. he told me about his bunkmates, and how he signs up for every activity. ♪ he even hangs out with the camp director. just like that. [ male announcer ] the new citi thankyou premier card gives you more ways to earn points. what's your story? citi can help you write it. [ male announcer ] who's your car's best friend

erica hill joins us from new york. good morning to you. er car, can you hearerica?i can't hear you. president obama is actually headed on vacation today getting a little criticism for taking that break with his family. before leaving he sat down to talk with our anthony mason where he not only defended this break in the middle of an economic crisis but also talked a little more about some of the fears americans have whether or not we could see another recession. we are going to bring you some of that interview just ahead this morning. and we are talking about the economic pinch. this is something you probably feel every time you go to the grocery store. seems every time you tournament, the price of something goes up. my coffee yesterday at the grocery store just increased by $3 a package. seems a little excessive. so a lot of families are cutting back on food. why some of those items in your cart have become more expensive. and because we want to leave you on an up note, how about a little music on your thursday. one female artist katie perry number one on the billb

." >> erica hill joins us from new york. good morning to you. >> good morning.gering effects of hurricane irene. as you know, there are still some 2 million people without power on the eastern seaboard and boy that flooding is really taking its toll. rivers continue to rise. new evacuations in new jersey, people are stranded in vermont. we are going to check in to see if there are enough resources to cope with the extent of the damage and whether or not some proposals that would change the way fema is funded how that could affect the way they respond to future disasters. when you talk about disaster, a lot of focus on these wildfires in texas and oklahoma several other states where there's been no rain, terrible drought. now there's some focus on a new storm brewing in the gulf which they would actually like to see come their way, not at a destructive storm of course but if it can come with just enough rain, a lot of folks think that could give them more of a fighting chance. >>> you may wan to be careful where you post the invite to your next party. like if you

." >> erica hill joins us now from our nation's capital.ing,, erica. >>> coming up, we know the deal is in hand but the question is whether or not it will pass whether there is enough support in both houses for that to happen. we'll check in with john mccain and steny hoyer to give us a sense of whether it will beat the deadline. birth control may now be free. we'll ask the white house advisor why insurance companies are being required to pay for contraception. that's ahead on "the early show." with two women at the helm this morning, we'll talk about whether or not the negotiation may have gone differently and perhaps more quickly if more women were involved here in washington. just a question. >> just putting it out there. >> i like it. >> yeah. [ laughter ] >> i have had this conversation with other people by the way. >> we'll stay tuned. thanks. "the early show" starts at 7:00. >>> time now 6:52. it's a marriage made in geek heaven. how two techie sweethearts got hitched with the help of an unusual "minister." we'll tell you all about i

." >> and i believe erica hill is in the big chair today. good morning. >> hey, guys, good morning. i can still have chocolate and i'll go for a run. done. we could use a pick-me-up today after they look out their which don't in the aftermath of irene. so much damage, flooding, millions of people up along the east coast from north carolina to new england without power this morning. and it's going to be a little while for some folks until the power is back on. even just getting around in some of these towns. you have to use a boat. we have seen people in kayaks on roads flooded. it's affecting travel across the country after new york airports were closed among others. so we'll update you on travel situations, as well. plus, you may have caught general colin powell on "face the nation" with bob schieffer talking about dick cheney's new book which is out tomorrow. he said he overshot the runway. powell saying that about cheney calling the remarks in his book cheap shots. so you hear more on that. we'll get a preview of the u.s. open which kicks